Improvement in combined carpet-stretchers and tack-drivers



'GL-A. A L GER. Combined Carpet-Stretcher and Tack-Driver.

Patentedlunel,l875.

THE GRAPHIC CO.PHOTO-UTH.39&4\ PARK PLAGEJLY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIo GEORGE A/ALGER, OF MANCHESTER, ASSIGNOB. TO SAMUEL e. PARKER AND JOHN M. FARRAR, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED CARPET-STRETCHERSAND TACK-DRIVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 163,907, dated J une 1, 1875; application filed May 2, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. ALGER, of Manchester, in the county of Hillsborough, State of New Hampshire, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oombined Oarpet-Stretchers and Tack-Drivers, of which the following is a description sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved combined carpetstretcher and tack-driver. Fig. 2 is a plan of the adjustable jaws of the same. Fig. 3 is a front sectional view, showing the hammer when down, and Fig. 4 a like view, showing the jaws closed, as when holding a tack.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the drawing.

My invention relates to means for stretching and tacking or nailing the carpet at the same time, and consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, by which a cheaper and more effective implenent of this character is produced than is now in common use.

The extreme simplicity of my invention renders an elaborate description unnecessary.

In Fig. 1, A is the handle or staff; B, the hammer; O, the tack-holders or jaws; D, the serrated plate; F, the brackets in which the hammer is hung; E, the sliding rod for operating the hammer; jjj, guides or eyes, in which the rod is mounted; and r", a loop in the rod forming a handle.

The plate D is attached to the end of the staff in such a manner that the teeth project vertically when the staff is inclined at an angle of about forty-five degrees, as shown in Fig. 1. The hammer B works in the slot K, Figs. 3 and 4, and has its handle hinged or pivoted in the bracket F, Fig. 1, in such a manner as to be drawn up by the rod E to the position indicated by the dotted lines 61 preparatory to striking a blow. The jaws (5 are jointed at a, Fig. 2, to the plate D, and provided'with a coiled spring, G, disposed between the ends H H, and acting expansively to close the opposite endszc m, which, when brought together, form a tunnel-shaped hopper for holding the tack t', Figs. 1 and 4.

From the foregoing, the nature and operation of my invention will be readily obvious to all conversant with su ch matters.

It is well known that in putting down carpets it is very difficult, especially for one person, to stretch or bring them up to the wall of the room and hold them in a proper position while being tacked or nailed. My invention is designed to obviate this difficulty, and to this end I make use of a stretcher consisting of the handle A and serrated plate D, provided with the expansible jaws G for holding the tack and the pivoted hammer B, operated by the sliding rod E, the whole forming an impressed upon the carpet near its edge, and the hammer B drawn back to theposition indicated by the dotted lines d. The handle Ais then inclined, as shown in Fig. 1, and pushed forcibly downward until the edge of the carpet is brought into the desired posit-ion, when by pushing suddenly upon the loop 1', the hammer will be caused to descend upon the tack, and drive it through the carpet into the floor, as shown in Fig. 1, the jaws expanding to admit of this in a manner which will be readily obvious.

I am aware it is not new to combine together a tacking and a stretching mechanism; butin my case the hammer is pivoted below the staff so that the blow, when struck, may fall flatly upon the head of the tack. Further, the hammer, in my invention, acts directly upon the tack, Without intervening mechanism, and spreads the jaws open by a flange on its head to permit the whole head of the tack to pass, all being'j accomplished while the carpet is hold in place by the serrated plate, through a slit in the forward edge of which the tack is struck into the carpet.

The whole device is simple in construction, can be cheaply made, and is strong and durable.

Having thus described my invention, what.

I claim is 1. A stretching and tacking mechanism combined, consisting of the serrated plate D at the extremity of thestaff, spring jaws placed above said plate to hold the tack, and a hammer pivoted at the end of its handle to a support projecting from the under side of the stafl', said hammer being actuated by a rod running in eyes upon the staff, all as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the slotted staff A, the hammer-support F, hammer a pivoted at the end of its handle to the end of the support F, and the actuating-rod E, joined to the hammer-handle at a point midway between its head and the pivoted end of the handle.

GEORGE A. ALGER.

Witnesses:

M10. D. PATTEN, G. 0. WILSON. 

